So all the Republican mouthpieces are out there parsing, forgive me, just exactly what the meaning of "is" is. The only response to such legalistic cant is derisive laughter. There is also the fact, as one of Josh Marshall's TPM readers pointed out, that Novak initially said of his sources "they gave me her name and I used it." That is, before this became a problem for the Republicans, Novak told the truth, however accidentally.

But what really give the game away psychologically, if not legally, is that the original smear was framed in sexist terms. "Little wifey did it," as Republican hack John Gibson said yesterday. That has been the central theme of the smear from the beginning & now the good ole boys are retuning to it. Wilson is a weakling, Rove is a man -- that is the narrative the White House has been pushing from the start. They are not about to change now.

There is an aspect to the story that has gotten lost over the last few days what with all the Rove / Cooper business. That is: Who is Judith Miller protecting. Clearly, it is not Rove. (Unless Rove told Miller Plame's name? How come the names Chalabi & Bolton keep bubbling to the surface of my speculations?) I suspect that Ms. Miller is protecting her own sorry ass, but, hey, that's just me, right?